Ms. LyonsD-31

6th Grade BlockHistory & Language Arts

Welcome

• Please fill out a parent information sheet:

• Please take one of each: School Site Council ballot (yellow) Parent information form Block presentation is available at the bottom of

my website homepage

• We’ll begin shortly.

Background

• 25th year in the teaching profession

• 6th Grade Language Arts

• B.S.- San Diego State University

• M.A. –St. Mary’s College

• Ed.D. at University of San Francisco Officially Dr. Lyons

6th Grade Transition

• Procedural What does each teacher require? How do I organize my materials so I know what’s

happening for each class? How do I arrange my time to meet all the

demands in my life?

• Social New friends, cliques, differing levels of maturity

• Academic Grading system point-based Less one-on-one support More need to be independent learners

Support the Transition

• Check teacher websites weekly

• Make sure child writes homework in organizer

• Initial organizer

• Help your child make weekly plans to attend to their tasks

• Clean out backpack/binder weekly

• Acknowledge students’ positive efforts for self-control, self-management, and independence

• Use a timer to keep focus during homework time

Harvest Park Character Ed.

• Compassion

• Honesty

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Integrity-Academic Integrity

• Self-discipline

Academic Integrity

• Students’ work must be their own Over-helping from tutors on writing assignments

• Pressure to be perfect Cheating on homework/quizzes/tests

• Mistakes are part of learning

• Bragging & Comparing

Professional Mission

Inspire inquiry

Encourage risk-taking

Facilitate independent learning skills

Develop depth of thought

Celebrate students’ unique gifts

Nurture social skills & friendships

Educational Philosophy

Parents & teachers are partners

Utilize multiple modalities for learning

Honor individual strengths

Explicit instruction

Assessment drives instruction

Deliver instruction in concert with BRAIN-MEMORY learning theory

Differentiated Curriculum

Acceleration/Compacting Testing out of material, independent work, self-

paced

Depth Develop expertise & learn a subject in great

detail

Novelty Student centered, interest-based, exhibit creative

products demonstrating learning

Critical Thinking Skills: Open-ended assignment, higher level of Bloom’s

Taxonomy

Differentiated Instruction

Bloom’s Taxonomy Knowledge—recall, listing, defining Comprehension—summarizing, Application—use knowledge in new situation Analysis—compare/contrast/ infer/deduct Synthesis—create novel ideas from prior

knowledge Evaluation—judge & defend judgment

Habits of mind Self-motivation Self-regulation Independence Reflection

Curriculum

Common Core State Standards

Pleasanton Unified School District Course of Study

Technology

• Google PUSD accounts Google Classroom Google Presentation Google Docs Google Drawing Google MyMaps

• BYOD-Bring your own device: Chromebooks, laptops, tablets with Chrome added 12 Chromebooks

• Study IslandOn-line standards assessment & remediationWill start in 2-3 weeks

Social Studies

• Utilize GRAPES as overarching themeGeographyReligionAchievementPolitical StructureEconomic StructureSocial Structure

Social Studies Topics• Mesopotamia

• Egypt/Kush

• Ancient Israelites

• Ancient India

• Ancient China

• Ancient Greece

• Ancient Rome

Learning Objectives

• For each unit, your child will receive A list of objectives & vocabulary words that

will be used to write test questions A table of contents Weekly review of instruction matched to

instructional objectives Homework based on answering questions

on study guides Review games two days before tests Study Strategies instruction and reflection Differentiated projects that highlight

interest areas

Social Studies-Continued

Class work Reading for information

Textbook Handouts Digital research

Demonstrate Comprehension Artistic-posters, models, diagrams, digital displays Verbally-skits, role-play, imposter interviews, debates, simulations Written-research reports, essays, articles, poetry,

Grading Daily preview/review Unit packets—TOC, notes, handouts, unit reflection Quizzes & tests Daily work- completeness, accuracy 50% test/quizzes/50% class work/homework

Text Ancient Civilizations

Reading

General Topics-LiteraturePlot elementsCharacterizationThemeLiterary DevicesPoetry

General Topics-Non-Fiction Main idea & detailsCiting evidence to support analysisHow events & ideas are developed in non-fiction

Reading

Literature Reading The Boy in the Painted Cave The CayWhere the Red Fern Grows Literature Anthology- HoltBook Club: free choice—2nd semester

Informational TextsScope magazine articlesVarious articles connected to content Informational text from Holt Literature Anthology

Reading continued

Class work-Gradual Release of Responsibility Thinking aloud-Read aloud Shared response-Shared text Independent reading response/Conferencing

Homework Reading logs-practice reading strategy Literary Analysis- Preparing for discussions & Socratic seminars

Grading Project Rubric score Comprehension Assessments Response Journals/reading logs/book projects 20 Book Challenge/Book Clubs

Writing

Main focus-Essay with text-based responses & analysis-(2+ per genre)Autobiographical Narrative—1st quarter Response to Literature-2nd & 3rd quarterArgumentative Research Reports-3rd & 4th

quarter

Writer’s WorkshopAnalyze Mentor TextsMini-lessonIndependent practice/conferring/reteaching

Pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing

Publishing

Spelling/Vocabulary

Guiding QuestionsWhat are the origins of English words?What are the structural elements of words?How can you learn the meaning of new words?What are the levels of “understanding” a word?How does word knowledge impact your

understanding of the curriculum?

Learning Material10 vocabulary words

Text: Vocabulary for AchievementWeekly homework menu—on websiteWeekly quiz on Friday

Grammar

Guiding QuestionsHow are different parts of speech formed?How does knowledge of POS impact writing?How does punctuation or lack of it impact

writing?What dictates which words are capitalized?

AssessmentsMonthly grammar pre-assessments & quizzes

Compact out if score 90% higher on pre-assessments

Drill & practice work—2 homework assignments/week

Text: Holt Handbook & No Red Ink WebsiteApply skill in writing & editing

Language Arts Grading15% Spelling

10% assessments & 5% assignments

15% Grammar10% assessments & 5% assignments

35% Reading20% assessments, 10% assignments, 5%

20 Book Challenge

35% Writing not weighted

Assessments

Based on evidence of mastering the state standards:Projects/Writing/ Assignments-

Rubric descriptors correlate to gradesSkills practice- percentage scoresTests

fill-in, multiple choice-percentage scoreessay response-rubric scores

Homework

Homework is assigned every Monday & is due the following Wednesday or FridaySpelling/vocabulary- 2 assignments a weekGrammar- 2 times a weekReading or Writing ~ 1 or 2 assignments a week20 Book Challenge ReadingHistory ~ 2 assignments a week

Tutorial, homework time, & make up daysMondays-Thursday at lunch

Late Work

Missing WorkStudent will fill out a missing work form & bring it

home to have it signed. If not returned the next day, the student will email/call home when work is not turned in on a due date

Extenuating circumstance-note/phone call

Late work accepted only during the first semester the day after it’s due for 50% credit

Grades

• Updated bi-weekly on Q-Zangle

• Can use your own code to access your child’s grades as often as you’d like

Absent/Late Work

AbsencesRetrieve work from weekly fileHave one week to turn in work

Discipline Policy

Rules

1. Arrive to class on time.

2. Follow procedures and directions.

3. Begin work immediately.

4. Focus attention on person speaking.

5.Treat others with kindness & respect

Consequences

1. Warning

2. Think Sheet

3. Miss Break

4. Home Contact

5. Office Referral

Communication

Website

Update on Fridays

Post homework on website weeklyInstructional objectivesProject descriptions, due datesUpcoming school events

Phone callsShare success and concernsCheck in

Notes & email Communicate progressShare successes

Contact information

E-mail Preferred means of communication elyons@pleasantonusd.net

Web page:

Link from Harvest Park site

http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/ELyons/

LET’S HAVE A FABULOUS YEAR!!!• Time of transition

• Change takes time for some kids

• Challenge is its own reward

• We are a team